Cushion with Scent Cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cushion device comprising a body having an outer surface defining a boundary and at least one cartridge positioned outside the boundary. The cartridge may include a scented substance and a cover for varying the exposure of it to the surroundings.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a cushion and, morespecifically, to a cushion having at least one scent cartridgepositioned externally thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different configurations of cushions or pillows exist in today'ssociety. Some cushions are used to pad furniture, while others providecomfort to a person lying in a reclined position. Many types ofmaterials have been used to form these cushions. Some of these cushionshave incorporated materials or inserts comprising a pleasant aroma. Thearoma often provides a therapeutic benefit to the person using thecushion. For instance, certain scents can clear breathing passageways,while others help an individual relax.

Unfortunately, many of the aroma emitting cushions do not have amechanism for controlling the amount of scent released. Moreover, mostof these cushions have the aromatic material positioned within thecushion. This configuration makes it extremely difficult for a user tochange the scent or to remove the aromatic material. Additionally, whenthe aromatic material is positioned within the cushion, the non-scentedcushion material often assumes the scent of the aromatic material, thuscreating an undesirable condition when a user desires to change orremove the scent.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a cushion having an aromaticmaterial supply positioned outside of the boundaries of the cushion.Furthermore, the need exists for a cushion that has a mechanism enablingthe user to control the concentration of the scent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as describedherein, a new and improved cushion device is described. The cushionincludes a body having an outer surface defining a boundary and at leastone cartridge removably attached to the body and positioned outside theboundary.

In one embodiment, the cushion includes a body having at least oneaperture passing substantially through the body. A first and secondcartridge removably attach to a connector engaging the aperture. Thecartridges may include a retainer forming a partially enclosed cavitycontaining a scented material, and a cover. Additionally, the cushionmay include a first and second base that attach to the ends of theconnector, while the cartridges attach to the first and second base. Thecartridges may also include at least one projection adapted to fit atleast one cooperating groove formed in the first and second base.

The invention may further comprise a kit including at least onecartridge adapted for receiving and holding a scented material, whereinthe cartridge includes a retainer forming a partially enclosed cavityhaving at least one opening and a cover. The retainer may include atleast one projection adapted to fit at least one cooperating grooveformed in a base. The kit may also include at least one connector and acushion having an aperture for slidably receiving the connector.Additionally, the kit may contain a first base and a second base forreceiving a first and second cartridge adapted for receiving and holdingthe scented material.

In the following description there is shown and described one possibleembodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one ofthe modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will berealized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, andits several details are capable of modification in various, obviousaspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cushion device forming one possibleembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cushion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cushion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cushion of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating one embodiment ofthe cushion 10 of the present invention. As illustrated, the cushion 10includes a body 12, a connector 14, and at least one cartridge 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, the body 12 has a curved top surface 12a, an inclined rear surface 12 b, substantially planar side surfaces 12c, 12 d, and a substantially planar bottom surface 12 e, the totality ofwhich defines a boundary. As shown in FIG. 2, the body has a width W, afirst height H₁, and a second height H₂. The body 12 includes a cutout18 at a juncture 20 of the top surface 12 a and the rear surface 12 b.In this arrangement, the curved top surface 12 a supports the back andshoulders of a user, while the cutout 18 receives and supports the neckand head of the user. The inclined rear surface 12 b promotes thepositioning of a user's head and neck at a desired location for comfortwhen lying in a prone or supine position. The cutout 18 also enables auser to position his or her neck in an extended manner to facilitatestretching, therapeutic massage, or other physical therapy. Varying theangle of the inclined rear surface 12 b and the shape and size of thecutout 18 allows varying degrees of neck stretching and support.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the body 12 also includes an aperture 22passing through a portion of the body 12. In the illustrated embodiment,the aperture 22 consists of a substantially cylindrical channel 22 apassing through the width W of the body 12. With reference to FIGS. 2and 3, the connector 14 may be slidably received in channel 22 a. In oneembodiment, the connector 14 consists of a substantially cylindrical rodhaving a first end 24 a and a second end 24 b. The channel 22 a may bepositioned anywhere on the body 12 of the cushion 10, but is typicallypositioned at a height less than H₂. This positioning enables theconnector 14 to be placed within the body 12 without substantialdetection by a user of the cushion 10. It will be appreciated that theaperture 22 and the channel 22 a may be any suitable size or shape inaccordance with the configuration of the connector 14.

After insertion of the connector 14 through the channel 22 a, a firstbase 26 a attaches to the first end 24 a of the connector 14, while anidentical second base 26 b attaches to the second end 24 b, therebypreventing inadvertent removal of the connector 14. In one embodiment,the first and second base 26 a, 26 b each consist of a substantiallycylindrical disk having a receiver 28 with a base aperture 30 projectingfrom a bottom surface 32 thereof. The base aperture 30 may have adimension slightly larger than the dimension of the connector 14, suchthat the receiver 28 removably receives a portion of the first or secondend 24 a, 24 b of the connector 14. The first and second base 26 a, 26 bmay removably attach to the connector 14 via a friction fit, or they maybe semi-permanently attached to ends 24 a, 24 b of the connector 14 byuse of an adhesive, by welding, or by any suitable means of securement.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the receiver 28 engages a portion of the cushionaperture 22 of the body 12. In this arrangement, the bottom surface 32of each base 26 a, 26 b contacts either side 12 c, 12 d of the body 12.The base 26 a, 26 b also includes a circumferential wall 34 defining arecess 36. The wall 34 may include at least one keyway or groove 38adapted to receive a portion of the cartridges 16.

The cartridges 16 include a retainer 40 and a cover 42. The retainer 40may comprise a cylinder forming a partially enclosed cavity 44 a havingat least one opening 44. In one embodiment, the opening 44 issubstantially wedge-shaped, however, the opening 44 may be any desiredshape or size. The retainer 40 also includes at least one projection 46adapted to fit in the keyway or groove 38 of the base 26 a, 26 b. Thegroove 38 may include a transverse slot 48 positioned at the bottom ofthe groove 38, in substantially the same plane as the bottom surface 32of the base 26 a, 26 b. Thus, a user wishing to attach the retainer 40to the base inserts the projection 46 into the groove 38 of the baseuntil the projection 46 engages the slot 48. At this point, the user mayrotate or otherwise insert the projection 46 into the slot, therebycompleting the attachment process. To remove the retainer 40, the usersimply reverses these steps to disengage the projection 46 from the slot48 and the groove 38. However, a skilled artisan will appreciate thatthe retainer 40 may removably attach to the base in any desired manner,such as via friction fit. Additionally, the retainer 40 may attachdirectly to the connector 14, thereby obviating the need for the base 26a, 26 b.

The cavity 44 a of the retainer 40 may receive a scented substance, suchas loose pellets or lumps of scented material, or a container having ascented oil, gel, or other material known in the aroma therapy arts. Thecover 42 movably attaches to the retainer 40, so that a user may adjustthe concentration of scent. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 42has a dimension slightly larger than the dimension of the retainer 40,such that the cover 42 rotates about its longitudinal axis L. The cover42 may include a plurality of apertures 52 configured substantiallyidentically to the shape of the opening 44 of the cavity 44 a. In thisconfiguration, rotation of the cover 42 enables a user to vary theexposure of the scented material to its surroundings. For instance, if auser wishes to increase the concentration of the scent, apertures 52 ofthe cover 42 may be aligned directly over the opening 44 of the retainer40. Alternatively, to decrease the concentration of the scent, only aportion of the apertures 52 may be aligned over the opening 44, whilepositioning the remainder of the apertures 52 over the retainer 40. Ifthe user desires only a minimal amount of scent, the apertures 52 may bepositioned completely over the retainer 40, such that no portion of theapertures 52 is positioned over the opening 44. Finally, if the userdesires no scent, he may completely remove the cartridges from the base26 a, 26 b and the cushion 10. Additionally, if a user wishes to changeor replenish the scented material, he may either remove and replace thecartridge 16, or simply remove the cover 42 to insert additional ordifferent scented material into the cavity 44 a of the retainer 40. Thecushion 10 may be fabricated from well-known types of materials. In oneembodiment, the body 12 comprises a compressible, resilient material,such as polyurethane or polyether foam. Use of this type of materialallows insertion of the connector 14 through the channel 22 a withoutthe detection of the connector 14 by a user when positioned on thecushion 10. The connector 14, cartridges 16, and base 26 a, 26 b mayalso be fabricated from any material, but would preferably be a polymersuch as high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.

It is also contemplated that the cartridges 16 forming one aspect of thepresent invention may be sold as a kit. The cartridge 16 may includedifferent scented materials and may be packaged together with theconnector 14 and base 26 a, 26 b, thereby allowing a user to retrofit abody 12, such as a conventional cushion or pillow, previously acquiredwithout cartridges or scented materials.

The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments of the invention areprovided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to beexhaustive or limiting. Modifications or variations are also possible inlight of the above teachings. The cushion 10, body 12, cartridges 16,cutout 18, retainer 40, cover 42, base 26 a, 26 b and connector 14 maybe any desired size, shape, or design. The cartridges 16 could beprovided as a one-piece replaceable unit, thus eliminating the need forthe cover and retainer. Additionally, the cartridges may comprise anydesired combination of scented material, or scented material retainer.Moreover, the cartridges 16 may have any suitable mode or mechanism foradjustment of the concentration of scent. The cartridges 16 may bemanufactured, used and sold with or without the cushion 10, connector14, base 26 a, 26 b, or any combination thereof. The scented materialmay take the form of any medium capable of emitting the desired scent.The embodiments described above were chosen to provide the bestapplication to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art toutilize the disclosed inventions in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

1. A cushion device, comprising: a body having an outer surface defininga boundary; and at least one cartridge positioned external of theboundary, the cartridge being removably attached to the body.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the at least one cartridge comprises aretainer forming a partially enclosed cavity having at least one openingand a cover.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cover is movablyattached to the retainer.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the coverincludes at least one aperture.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the atleast one aperture is configured substantially similarly to theconfiguration of the retainer opening.
 6. The device of claim 2, whereinthe cavity is adapted to receive a scented substance in an interiorthereof.
 7. The device of claim 1, further including a connector passingthrough a portion of the body for supporting the at least one cartridge.8. The device of claim 7, wherein the connector is slidably received inan aperture extending substantially through the body; and a firstcartridge removably attaches to a first end of the connector and asecond cartridge removably attaches to a second end of the connector. 9.The device of claim 7, further including a base attached to theconnector for removably receiving the at least one cartridge.
 10. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein the base includes a projecting member thatengages a portion of the aperture extending substantially through thebody, whereby a bottom surface of the base contacts a side of the body.11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one cartridge includesat least one projection adapted to be received by at least onecooperating groove formed in the base.
 12. A cushion device, comprising:a body having an outer surface defining a boundary and at least oneaperture passing substantially through the body; a connector engagingthe at least one aperture; and a first cartridge and second cartridge,wherein the first cartridge removably attaches to a first end of theconnector and the second cartridge removably attaches to a second end ofthe connector such that the first and second cartridges are positionedexternal of the boundary.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the firstand second cartridges comprise: a retainer forming a partially enclosedcavity adapted to receive a scented material; and a cover movablyattached to the retainer.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein a firstbase is attached to the first end of the connector and a second base isattached to a second end of the connector, and the first cartridge isremovably attached to the first base and the second cartridge isremovably attached to the second base.
 15. The device of claim 14,wherein the first and second cartridges include at least one projectionadapted to be received by at least one cooperating groove included inthe first and second base.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the atleast one cooperating groove is formed in a circumferential wall of thefirst and second base which defines a recess for receiving a portion ofthe first and second cartridge.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein thebody comprises a pillow having at least one cutout at a juncture of thetop surface with a junction of the rear surface of the pillow.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17, wherein the side surfaces of the pillow aresubstantially planar and the top surface of the pillow is curved. 19.The device of claim 18, wherein the side surfaces of the pillow have afirst height and a second height, such that the connector is positionedat a height less than the second height.